No More Prisons

Title: No More Prisons
Author: William "Billy" Upski Wimsatt
Publisher: Subway and Elevated Books
Year: 1999

This book is a compilation of Wimsatt's articles and short stories of his organizing and philanthropy activities. Wimsatt is one of the Cool Rich Guys who understands community organizing pretty well. He dropped out of school, read a lot of books, wrote about graffitti, and traveled throughout "dangerous" neighborhoods across urban america even though he is white, just to prove that nothing is wrong with being white and walking in these dangerous neighborhoods. I would just say that he was lucky. This guy is crazy!!! But I like him because he has this gut and strong will to change the situation.

What's "no more prison" theory? Prison is another form of slavery and I agree. 60% of black people are in prison. And those of them who were out of prison hardly can find any jobs. The system made all of these happened. When you're uneducated, the only school you can go to doesn't teach you anything, and your mom and dad never teach you how to live, and you don't go to church, you never knew any good values out there but listens to Eminem all day long, whose values do you think will stick on your mind? That's right. Eminem won. You're out there became his disciples.

And the other world is also created. The world of rich suburbanites who are afraid to go to inner-cities, the world of suburbanites who judge and never experiences the life of inner cities: one challenge for suburbanites in Cincinnati: walk around downtown (Over-the-Rhine, if you dare). Just walk through it and behave.

One thing that people do not realize is that there is another world other than being black and drug addicts. There are a bunch, many, many, black families, whom I admire, and held their norms, family values, religion, and manners as their number one philosophies. They are just not in the news at all time. But, go around and you'll find out.

Back to Wimsatt, I agree that the current prison system is destructing rather than rehabilitating.

Another Earthquake

Another earthquake occured again in Indian Ocean around West Sumatera this morning, 8.8 magnitude. God have mercy.

Ode to the Fig Tree

The Fig tree, what did you do wrong until Jesus curse you?

Bapak

I remember you saved me from water. I remember you always brought me my favorite books. You drove along the way just to see me smile.

I always thought you loved me more when I was so young. Where did all the love go?

You told me I asked a hundreds of questions when we traveled. You told me I can't stop asking. Questions and questions.

Since then, I searched and searched for your everywhere. May be you were hiden under the smile of my science teacher, then I would talk to him about my days, for I was too afraid to talk to you. Afraid that you would think my day was foolish.

I searched and searched for you everywhere. Behind the voice of the preacher at our church.I would ask him questions about faith, about life, about why and how. I was too afraid you could stop my questions before I even finish.

I looked and looked for you everywhere. In my brother's laughter. In my mother's patient voice. I can't find you even you were there. You were there, in silence. I don't know how to reach you.

And one day I heard that "actions speak louder than words" and that was all you did. You did not say that you love me, but you were always there when I need you.

You are the best, I love you, Bapak.

love is the drug

A message from Shallots to Shallots

What the world has taught was there was something to be expected when you love someone, when you smile to someone, when you give something, that they will return "the favor" to you and you will be pleased.

But when the return did not meet the expectation, someone did not smile back, someone did not appreciate what you have done, there was no -thank you-, that would create a hole inside and dissapointment.

Learn to love in a new way, that means the right way, the way love is supposed to be. Love is an ability to be able to give, to be able to receive, to be able to re-centered life not into self but into others. That's not utophia, but entophia, someone in this world has done it perfectly before. But that's the kind of love that will not hurt you back, that will not beat you up, that will not run you down the drain or consume you. That's the kind of love that you have to keep in mind whenever you spread it.

Love is not depend on whether the object is lovable or not. It is unconditional.